The Centrifuge is a laboratory for conducting gravitational biology
research in the International Space Station (ISS) program. The Centrifuge
consists of the Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG), Centrifuge Rotor (CR),
and Centrifuge Accommodation Module (CAM). LSG is to be delivered
on orbit in 2004, and CR/CAM, in 2006, by a U.S. Space Shuttle.
In this project, JAXA provides the Centrifuge to NASA as part of
the offset of NASA's provision of the Shuttle launch services for
the launch of the Japanese Experimental Module (Kibo).

The Centrifuge is a laboratory for studying
gravitational biology. It is used to precisely and quantitatively investigate
how microgravity affects biological specimens. The goal of this development project
is to test and demonstrate the operability to handle biological specimens in a
manned space environment, technology for a large rotating payload, and integration
of payloads into a module.

Outlines
of LSG/CR/CAM

Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG)

The LSG provides an enclosed
environment (workvolume) in which biological specimens and chemicals are isolated
from the pressurized environment of the module and crew members can manipulate
those specimens through gloves. The LSG is the largest (500-liter) biological
experiment equipment used on orbit to date and can accommodate two habitats. Two
crew members can conduct science procedures at the same time, such as dissecting
small animals, and seeding and harvesting plants.

Launch
Date

Sep. 2004 (Utilization Flight 3:UF-3)

Location

USLab
and CAM

Mass

Less than 680kg

Volume

One
ISPR rack size (Launch configuration)

Operational Period

10
years on orbit

Habitat

Max. mass:

116kg

Dimensions:

W48XH71XD61(cm)
W19XH28XD24(inch)

Max number:

2

Crew Operability

Two crew members can work
at the same time.

Work Volume

Volume:

0.5m3

Temperature:

18-27 Centigrade(Precision:
Less than 1 Centigrade)

Equipment

Vacuum
Cleaner Video Monitor Video Camera(2) Illumination

Centrifuge Rotor (CR)

The CR is the largest (2.5m diameter) equipment for gravitational experiments.
It provides a selectable, simulated gravity environment from 0.01g up to 2.00g
(0.01g increments) for biological specimens on ISS. Small animals and plants could
also be used in experiments with the CR, and significant advances for those gravitational
experiments are expected.

The Centrifuge's main mission
is to quantitatively investigate how gravity affects hematology, immunology,
neuroscience, plant physiology, radiobiology, etc. Some of the experiments on
gravitational biology currently planned are;

Evaluation of the
kinematics of plant orientation in microgravity and response to artificial gravity

Effect of microgravity on skeletal growth, maturity, and calcium metabolism

Examination of the effect of microgravity on blood and bone marrow colony
forming cells

The LSG development explores
techniques for isolating biological specimens from the crew, biological compatibility,
and crew operability in a pressurized module. Several functions are to be provided,
such as providing electrical power and air for biospecimens, to accumulate and
transfer data signals and video signals both for crew members on orbit and researchers
on Earth to monitor the status of the specimens.

The CR development involves
the challenge of "Slip Ring Technology" that bridges the rotating portion
and the static portion of the CR. It supplies air, liquid and power to the rotating
portion of the CR and receives video signals from the rotating portion to the
static portion. It also involves "Active Balancing Technology," to maintain
stable rotation even with the jittering habitats with active specimens. It also
involves "Precision Vibration Isolation Technology" to prevent the CR
rotation from disturbing the overall ISS micro-gravity environment. With all those
state-of-the-art technologies, the CR still manages to control the centrifugal
acceleration with a 0.01g resolution.

The CAM development integrates
the large-scale biological experiment equipment with hardware commonly used in
ISS, by utilizing and enhancing the integration technology derived from the Kibo
development.